30/06/2016
The development of Việt Nam in recent years is the result of many economic components’ efforts, of which the enterprise community plays important roles. In the current context of globalization, the effective implementation of corporate social responsibility, particularly environmental protection will support enterprises to enhance their competition capability and penetration into international markets and ensure enterprises’ sustainable development. The Environment Magazine had an interview with Mr. Nguyễn Quang Vinh – Deputy General Secretary of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and General Secretary of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) about this content.
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Mr. Nguyễn Quang Vinh Deputy General Secretary of VCCI and General Secretary of VBCSD |
Can you tell us the current compliance of enterprises on environmental protection? With its role, does VCCI have any plans to propagate and disseminate the Law on Environmental Protection 2014 to the enterprise community?
Mr. Nguyễn Quang Vinh: In general, the compliance of environmental protection regulations by Vietnamese enterprises is low. Currently, only some enterprises, mostly big corporations and groups have incorporated environmental protection in their operation programs and strategies. Most enterprises, particularly medium and small enterprises (making up nearly 98% of the total number of enterprises nationwide) have not incorporated environmental protection in their manufacturing and commercial activities or only implemented superficially to deal with functional agencies. Broadcasting on enterprises violating environmental protection regulations is frequent on the mass media. Recently, on August 6th, 2015, the inspection team of the Vietnam Environment Administration suddenly inspected the South East Asia Brewery Ltd. (Minh Khai, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội) and caught red-handed the factory discharging wastewater without any environmental treatment …
In 2013, VCCI consulted enterprises on the draft Law on Environmental Protection (revised), through which contributing to enhance the effectiveness and feasibility of the Law. Following this success, in the future, we will organize more workshops nationwide to disseminate widely new provisions in the Law on Environmental Protection 2014 to the enterprise community.
What policies does Việt Nam have to encourage enterprises to invest in environmental protection and sustainable development?
Mr. Nguyễn Quang Vinh: In recent years, the Government has promulgated many policies to encourage enterprises to participate in environmental protection. Typical is the regulation on taxation exemption and reduction for enterprises working in the field of environmental protection (Law on enterprise income tax); capital incentives for environmental protection investment projects (Decree No. 04/2009/ND-CP dated 14/1/2009 by the Government); incentives on land (land rent, land use exemption or reduction) for large-scale projects on wastewater treatment, domestic waste treatment (Decree No. 59/2014/ND-CP dated 16th June 2014 revising some articles of the Decree No. 69/2008/ND-CP dated 30th May 2008 by the Government). In addition, in the Action Plan implementing the National Strategy on Green Growth issued in 2014, the Government directly assigned VCCI some tasks to support enterprises to implement cleaner production activities, promoting sustainable development. Specifically, in the National Action Plan on Green Growth during 2014 - 2020, VCCI has been assigned by the Government these tasks: promoting the campaign of sustainable development enterprises; enhancing capacity and markets of technical supporting services and service management for green growth. The Office of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development has been assigned by the Standing Committee of VCCI to be the focal point of VCCI to prepare the detailed action plan to implement the assigned task.
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| Signing Ceremony of the Memorandcem of Understanding between VCCI and MONRE on Response to Climate Change and Environmental Protection |
Currently, violations of environmental protection of enterprises are increasing. What is the cause and can you propose and recommend mitigating this situation?
Mr. Nguyễn Quang Vinh: Firstly, the cause is due to the complicated and overlapping legal system on environmental protection in Việt Nam, for which enterprises meet many difficulties in complying with. For enterprises, one of the main causes is the awareness. With the target to maximize benefits, many enterprises cut “unnecessary” costs such as costs relating to environmental protection, regardless of belonging to environmental dependent groups or contributing to cause many adverse impacts on the environment. However, even the awareness issue is addressed; many enterprises face barriers in resources. For efficient use and saving of materials and energy as well as thorough treatment of wastes, enterprises need to be equipped with modern and comprehensive machines in combination with enough human resources that are capable of managing and operating this system. In reality, many enterprises of Việt Nam are seriously lacking technical and financial capacities to implement cleaner production. Furthermore, investment resources for creating the environmental landscape in the enterprise’s areas have not been paid attention to.
To solve the above issues, a holistic solution is needed. On the one hand, it is necessary to regularly review and revise the legal system on environmental protection towards simplification and practicality; continue to improve and develop new policies and mechanisms to promote the participation of enterprises in environmental protection. On the other hand, it is necessary to enhance the propaganda, awareness raising for enterprises on the importance of environmental protection; particularly, to support enterprises to incorporate environmental protection in their manufacturing and operating activities.
Thank you!
Vũ Nhung
(Implemented)
